• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
North Korean Nuclear Plant Alert Issued As ‘Signs Of Activities’ Detected, United Nations Warn

Home> News

Published 19:23 7 Mar 2022 GMT

North Korean Nuclear Plant Alert Issued As ‘Signs Of Activities’ Detected, United Nations Warn

The United Nations' atomic regulator has warned that North Korea appears to have renewed construction at its nuclear test site.

Hannah Smith

Hannah Smith

Featured Image Credit: Alamy

Topics: North Korea, World News

Hannah Smith
Hannah Smith

Hannah is a London-based journalist covering news and features for UNILAD. She's especially interested in social and political activism and culture.

Advert

Advert

Advert

The United Nations' atomic regulator has warned that North Korea appears to have renewed construction at its nuclear test site, as the isolated country continues to ramp up its controversial missile launches.

Speaking in Vienna on Monday, March 7, UN International Atomic Energy Agency director general Raphael Grossi claimed the watchdog had observed that North Korea appeared to be constructing an annex next to a suspected plutonium enrichment facility at the site in Yongbyon, north of the capital Pyongyang.

Yongbyon nuclear complex in 2008 (Alamy)
Yongbyon nuclear complex in 2008 (Alamy)

Advert

'We continue to observe construction activities at the Yongbyon site, including construction of an annex to the reported Centrifuge Enrichment Facility, the purpose of which has yet to be determined,' he said, per Reuters.

Grossi said it was possible the building was planned for the development of reactor components, and described North Korea's renewed activity around its nuclear test site as 'deeply regrettable'.

The news comes days after the country launched yet another missile test, which the state-run KCNA news channel claimed was part of plans to develop a new satellite.

It's the second such test North Korea has performed in the space of a week, leading to condemnation from international leaders who say the technology is largely the same as that used to develop ballistic missiles.

Advert

North Korea has previously attempted five satellite launches, two of which are believed to have been successful. In the wake of the last satellite launch in 2016, North Korean observers 38North said 'the obvious concern is that North Korea is testing ballistic missiles and only pretending to care about satellites'.

The most recent launch, which took place on Saturday, March 5, saw the rocket reach an altitude of 500km, travelling 300km before falling into the Sea of Japan, Japanese and South Korean defence officials told AFP.

North Korean missile launch (Alamy)
North Korean missile launch (Alamy)

Over the past year North Korea has renewed its missile development programme after a several-year pause, and in January conducted a record number of missile launches.

Advert

The activity has led some observers to warn that the country could resume nuclear testing or even launch its longest range inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM). The country has not tested either weapon since 2017.

The United States and other countries have condemned North Korea's activities, which they say are in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions that prohibit North Korea from carrying out any development of technology related to its ballistic missile or nuclear programs.

If you have a story you want to tell, send it to UNILAD via [email protected]

  • US bombs three major nuclear sites in Iran as officials warn of 'everlasting consequences'
  • North Korea shares rare glimpse into secret facility used to produce nuclear materials
  • Man who escaped North Korea twice reveals the wild rules residents live by in 'prison country'
  • North Korea threatens 'nuclear war' in space after slamming Trump's $175,000,000,000 'golden dome'

Choose your content:

an hour ago
11 hours ago
12 hours ago
  • an hour ago

    Iran's foreign minister gave extremely telling response to Trump's claim cease fire deal is done

    There's been an ongoing back-and-forth between Iran, Israel and the US for some time

    News
  • 11 hours ago

    Donald Trump issues surprising statement after Iran strikes US air base

    The president has issued a statement after Iran fired missiles at US air bases in Qatar and Iraq

    News
  • 12 hours ago

    'Lion whisperer' left fighting for his life after attack from same cat that killed his colleague last year

    Oleg Zubkov, the owner of the park, is said to be in a critical condition in hospital

    News
  • 12 hours ago

    Single mother, 48, diagnosed with Early-Onset Alzheimer's disease reveals first symptoms she noticed

    Rebecca Luna has also launched a fundraiser, knowing her condition will worsen

    News